The Obama AdministrationÆs Nuclear Weapon Strategy: The Promises of Prague

This book will comprehensively outline and evaluate the key Obama nuclear weapons policies, developments and initiatives from 2008-2012. Beginning with the Administration's vision and goals posited in the 2009 Prague Speech and reaffirmed in the National Security Strategy of 2010, the book will assess the Congressionally mandated Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the New START Treaty, the pursuit of CTBT ratification, the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), theFissile Material Cut-off Treaty(FMCT), the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review the Conference, the Global Nuclear Security Summit and the extent to Obama in the context of such initiatives, has actually upheld the lofty goals posited in Prague and differentiated himself from the nuclear path pursued by the Bush Administration. Additionally, the book will also evaluate the Obama Administration's dealings with other states in the context of its nuclear weapons policy - in particular, North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, India and China. It will be established that while Obama's nuclear strategy has conveyed the marks of his avowed goal to reduce the nuclear danger, the shift away from the legacy of the Cold War arms race has been conservative. Many of the initiatives and policies thus far have ended up being transitional, rather than transformational, while the Administration has even kept the door ajar on an a Reliable Replacement Warhead-type program. Cautious rather than bold, the policies have won relatively strong backing from the leadership at the Pentagon and the military. Obama's Prague speech 'aimed for the mountaintop,' but in reality, the vision of US nuclear policy is at 'the foothills' in terms of truly differentiating itself from its predecessor. In essence, the Administration has pursued a policy of nuclear balance with incremental steps toward disarmament, accompanied by measures to retain America's primacy and the nuclear option. Offering a comprehensive analysis of the current status of the US nuclear weapons strategy, this volume will be of great interest to scholars and students of American foreign policy, security studies and international relations.